Next Thanksgiving, Oregon begs your pardon: 200 wiseguy words

Wednesday, using a power that nobody has ever been able to find in the Constitution, President Obama celebrated Thanksgiving by pardoning two 40-pound male turkeys, who went off to spend the rest of their lives on display rather than on a platter. As usual with this custom, the turkeys had no comment, not even a thanks to their attorney.

Stars, the turkey pardoned by George W. Bush in 2003.The Associated Press

The Thanksgiving practice has been picked up by governors, who have some pardoning practice, from Alabama to Utah to Iowa. The idea has even spread to other species; in July, Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy pardoned a 15-pound lobster. But so far, the custom has not spread to Oregon; although we are a turkey-producing state, none of our turkeys have qualified for executive clemency.

Maybe we could follow Gov. Malloy's pattern and use the season to both display leniency and showcase local product. Oregon's governor could, for example, pardon a salmon.

Except, what do you do with a pardoned salmon? It doesn't actually work with a petting zoo.

We might need to think more broadly, to use the moment to display both Oregon's magnanimity and our belief that a native Oregon creature can indeed be not only spared but lead a productive life.

Next year, John Kitzhaber could become the first American governor to grant a Thanksgiving pardon to a state legislator.